Naia congestion: The trouble with hellos and goodbyes

To avoid congestion during the long holiday weekend, kin of passengers should refrain from bringing along jeeploads of well-wishers to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), officials said on Friday.

“It’s been a culture of the Filipinos that even if there’s only one person arriving, there’s a jeepney-load of well-wishers. We wish this would be avoided; anyway, you will see each other again later,” Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal told reporters.

He also advised departing passengers to drop the idea of driving to the airport with too many companions.

Naia terminals were congested during the previous long weekend as there were more arrivals on the eve of Christmas, and more departures on Christmas Day, Monreal observed.

Airlines also advised travelers to allot ample time to get to the terminals and undergo check-in, security and immigration checks, and other predeparture procedures.

Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, in a joint advisory, said its passengers may also check in via the Cebu Pacific mobile app or the Cebu Pacific website to cut the waiting and queuing time.

Web check-in is open from seven days up to four hours before departure for international flights, and up to one hour before departure for domestic flights.

Self-check-in kiosks at Terminals 3 and 4, and selected domestic airports are also available for passengers up to one hour before departure.

Check-in counters of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo are open three hours before departure for domestic flights, and four hours before departure for international flights.

Cebu Pacific has deployed roving check-in agents in all airports that the carrier operates in, including Naia Terminals 3 and 4.

The agents are equipped with iPads with the Levarti Max Airport application, as well as portable printers.

This allows terminal personnel to remotely check-in passengers, assign seats, facilitate payment for baggage and other ancillary services, and even print boarding passes.